76 



THE BRIDLE BITS. 



CHAPTEE VII 



MEXICAN RING BIT. 



The illustration below represents tlie principle of the 

 Spanish ring bit as nsed in Mexico and all Spanish- 

 American countries. It far excels the curb in both 

 power and seventy. The ring being inflexible, it is the 

 most cruel of all the bits when in unskilled hands. 



Fiof. 26. — MEXICAN KING BIT. 



While the curb is broad, flat and comparatively pliable, 

 the ring is hard and unyielding, and consequently instant 

 obedience is the result of the slightest touch of the rein. 

 The ring passes through a loop-hole in the back part of 

 the apex of the arch in the bar, while the front of the 

 tongue of the arch is rounded off, like the top of one's 

 thumb, so that when it presses on the roof of the mouth 

 it opens it but don't cut the bars in doing so. The ring 

 passes out at the upper corners of the mouth and around 

 the under jaw, and when the rein is drawn the arch is 

 thrown forward against the palate and the ring pressed 

 against the bones of the under jaw, where the curb 



